University of Maryland Baltimore Dental School - Mirror Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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DR. HORACE H. HAYDEN AXD His Influence on Dental Education By Dean J. Ben Robinson The chartering of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery in 1840 was not an extein])oraneous expression of a desire to provide dental educational opportuni- ties to those about to begin the practice of dentistry, but the ultimate fulfillment of an absorbing purpose to elevate dentistry through improved educational stand- ards and greater scientific attainments of those engaged in its practice. It was more than a casual purpose ; it was an ideal which served for more than forty years to actuate Dr. Horace H. Hayden, one of the most profound characters among the great in the annals of dentistry. This ideal was expressed in the thought that dentistry is a worthy branch of he healing art. equal in importance and entitled to the same consideration as any other medical specialty : and for one to qualify as a practitioner of oral surgery his scientific attainments should compare favorably with the educated physician. In harmony with this ideal Dr. Hayden devoted himself to a mastery of the medical sciences, applied his energies, conformed his practice and directed his great purpose toward improving the science and art of dentistry. He personified the attributes of a learned scientific profession and laid the foundation upon which the superstructure of independent dentistry has been erected. There is a false impression per -ading the atmosphere of dental histor - insinu- ating that Dr. Hayden lacked a background of medical training which would qualify him to begin the practice of dentistry with a full appreciation of its medical signifi- cance. This misconception finds excuse in a statement made by Dr. Chapin A. Harris, which has been carelessly and thoughtlessly handled because of its romantic appeal. The reference alluded to follows : While in New York he had occasion to call on Mr. Greenwood, a dentist, for his professional aid. While under treat- ment, the thought suddenl} ' struck him that he would like to be a dentist. He, therefore, immediately procured the few books which were then accessible and not apprehending any deficiency in mechanical skill, he directed his course south- ward in quest of a location arriving in Baltimore, 1804. Suddenly and immediately appearing in this text have caused readers to conclude that Hayden ' s entry into the profession was precipitate. Anyone with a knowledge of Dr. Hay- den ' s profound belief in education can regard the loose construction placed on this statement only as ridiculous fancy. There are no recorded facts which accurately portray his scientific accomplishments at the time of his arrival in Baltimore. It is therefore necessary for us to take fragmentary evidence and deduce conditions which could reasonably have existed to provide the scientific attainments which Dr. Hayden possessed. The date of Hayden ' s visit to Mr. Greenwood was fixed by Chapin Harris as 1792, while the time of his arrival in Baltimore is referred to as 1804. The latter date is known to be incorrect. Evidence points to 1800 as the probable year of his arrival. If Hayden arrived in Baltimore as early as 1800 where and how had he spent his time from the year 1792 when The thought suddenly struck him that he would like to be a dentist, Harris goes on to sav, To this end he commenced 16

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RAYMOND ALLEX PEARSOX, M.S.. LL.D. President of the L ' nhrrsitv 15

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the study of medicine and the extensive knowledge which he acciuired was such as to secure the confidence and respect of the medical profession, and further, He became the companion of the most eminent phj ' sicians and medical professors of Baltimore. There is every reason to conclude that Hayden, somewhere between 1792 and 1800, earnestly and seriously prepared for dentistry as diligently as he would have done for the practice of general medicine. In 1804 the merit of his qualifications was attested in an article. Ulcerated Tonsils, puljlished in the New York Medical Repository. The limited facilities of that period for printing contri- l)utions to medical literature and the fact that this discourse on a subject of interest to medicine merited publication is significant. We have every righ to assume that his preparation for the practice of dentistry was in accord with his educational ideals. Further, we know that all through his life he strove to improve the scientific background of others. As Harris expressed it Having by his unaided industry and talents acquired distinguished professional reputation, he was anxiotis for the elevation of the respectability of the art. Controlled by this great passion for professional improvement, we can readily understand Simon ' s statement that Almost from the time when he began the practice of his profession in Baltimore, he was accustomed to hold classes in dent- istry in his office at night with no light but the tallow dip. And moreover, as some of these men served their tutelage they were encouraged to study medicine at the University of Maryland. This attention to scientific preparation further emphasizes the educational ideal which Hayden conceived and spent his life in achieving. Impressed by health values obvious in dental practice and ajipreciating the high scientific standards of the art of that day, the Medical and Chirureical Faculty of Maryland, which was organized to function in the interest of higher scientific attainments of its members and authorized to safeguard the health of the public through licensure interpreted the powers vested in its Board of Examiners to in- clude dentistry as a specialty, and to require a license of those practicing this branch of the healing art. It has been shown how Dr. Hayden, because of his unusual attainments, had been accepted by the leading physicians of his day. From this we may conclude that Hayden ' s influence o])erated to secure for dentistry acceptance into this great medical organization, a recognition that has no parallel in dental history. This was the first effort in America to regulate the practice of dentistry as a specialty of medicine along lines compatible with the eesteem in which Dr. Hayden believed it should be held. It is noteworthy that the dis- tinguished Hayden received from the Faculty the first license issued to practice dentistry under this ruling. The first lectures delivered under the auspices of institutional education were delivered to medical students in the University of Maryland, School of Mdicine between the years 1821 and 1825. Again by us of fragmentary evidence and the time element we are able to get a rather clear picture of these lectures, (a) The following statement made by Chapin A. Harris bears on this point : About 35 years ago the late Dr. Hayden of Baltimore delivered courses of lectures on dental surgery in the University of Maryland — the experiment however, was unsuccess- ful. This was written in 1851 and if correct, shows lectures were delivered bv Hayden in 1816. The same author in his Dictionary of Dental Science states that In such high estimation was he held that he was invited about the year 1825 to read a course of lectures on dentistry before the medical class of the Maryland University. (b) The Medical Annals of Maryland, under events of importance .$— 17